God brought something to my attention recently. Proverbs 28:2 - When a country is rebellious it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. God sometimes speaks as loudly by what He doesn’t say, as what He says. I found it odd - the verse doesn’t say a king maintains order – a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. Now if you are just a man, even a man of understanding – you don’t have authority over a country – but you do have authority over you and your house (you and the things which God has given you responsibility over.) So this really applies not just to you because you are living in a nation or country, but also to your own life itself! How do you conduct yourself if you live in a country without order? and equally, how do you order your own life no matter what the state of the country you live in. Many rulers – means – many things trying to rule (whether in a country, or in your own life) Many things trying to rule, instead of the ruler. God says that’s rebellious, disorder. When a country doesn’t submit to the ruler, many others, other forces seek to exert their authority over it. In your own life, if you are not fully in God’s order, many things control you… and you are like that rebellious country with many rulers. God’s order is not only arrangement and sequence, but authority. A man of knowledge and understanding orders his life in authority – priority. He doesn’t allow himself to be ruled by many things, people, or passions. And if he is living in a country that is rebellious – having many rulers – he makes sure his personal life is fully surrendered to God. Order is arrangement, sequence, and authority. Your life should be arranged. The things in your life should be intentional – put there by God. The sequence of things, and habits – in priority order. Some things must take precedence over other things, some things must be done before other things. And the things in your life which are intentionally there – means that other things are intentionally not there. Some things in your live have no place. They are removed, or not included - whether wicked things or childish things. A man of God doesn’t go to the club. There is no purpose for him there. His life’s arrangement doesn’t include that activity (Proverbs 27:8 – Like a bird who strays from its nest, is a man who strays from his home). Neither does he spend all day playing video games, or playing in the sandbox. When he becomes a man, he puts some things behind him. (I Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.) Just a note - Childish and Child-like are totally different. Childish is the foolish and immature preoccupations of youth. Child-like is the unjaded faith and submission which is pleasing to God. The arrangement part of maintaining order – is those things which you allow to be a part of your life. The sequence part of maintaining order – is the priority of when and how long you do things. The authority part of maintaining order – simply means that God fully decides both the arrangement (the things included in your life) and the sequence (the order and duration of them).

It’s good to ask yourself – If you’re going to be like that man of understanding and knowledge… Is your arrangement right? Are the things in your life, people or activities – that which God has ordered for you? If your arrangement is wrong – you have many rulers – many things, people, or activities seeking to rule over you. If God didn’t tell you clearly, “That thing, person, or activity belongs here.” Eject it.

Then it’s good to ask yourself – if you’re going to be like that man of understanding and knowledge… Is your sequence right? Are you doing things in the proper order for the proper time period? Ask God to order your steps and your time. PiVAT will help you. Do you have God’s habits to ensure His sequence of things? Habit prevails where motivation fails.

And finally it’s good to ask yourself – if you’re going to be like that man of understanding and knowledge… Is your authority right? Do you decide, or does God decide the arrangement of things in your life? and the sequence, (the priority, timing, and duration) in which you do them? (Whether time, thoughts, or money)

You will either have many rulers or one ruler. If God doesn’t decide, it’s really the competing passions that decide for you – and you can become led by the lusts of life, or even the ‘good intentions’ of life. Sometimes good can be the enemy of best. And as you learn to hear and obey and walk in the plans God has for you – It’s really not about good, better or best. Those are just alternatives that unsurrendered people decide on for themselves. But for surrendered people – disciples – obeyers. God says He will instruct you in the way chosen for you! Good, better and best, are just options - sometimes just opinions. Because whatever God directs you to do is always the best for you! His direction always prospers you! Psalms 25:12 - Who is the man who fears the LORD? (fully obeys) He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. Praise God! When He instructs us – we always walk in His understanding and His knowledge – that’s how we are that man of understanding who maintains order – we just chose His order! He gives us His Holy Spirit – to direct our steps – so we don’t even have to worry about maintaining order – we just need to take the next step as He leads.

Praying for you! That you won’t become calloused in your PiVAT before dinner – taking liberties of deciding and just tell yourself - it’s God. But to truly seek Him. Even starting from scratch if you have to. Praying for you that the Holy Spirit would always lead you to be men and women of understanding and knowledge, that are always arranged and sequenced under His authority. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light, and when he speaks – the many things that want to rule you – become just footnotes, and failed attempts, like past exists on the freeway. He loves you more than you know! His order is not bondage - it's freedom! It's where He orders your steps to the good He has stored up for you.

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​Daily Huddle -Encouraging Daily Obedience

For years, we used 5-minute "Daily Huddles" to coordinate schedules, car needs, and train our kids in wisdom, life and relationships. As they grew, married and moved out, we started to text. We pray this is a daily encouragement for you!